NCAA Second Round: Texas Tech vs Alabama Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 22)
- The Red Raiders torched Akron in the Round of 64.
- The Crimson Tide took down Hofstra in the first round.
- This marks the ninth all-time matchup between the two squads.
An amazing high-major battle steps onto the hardwood as the Texas Tech Red Raiders take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second round in the NCAA Tournament. The former come out as the slight favorite, paving the way for a great game to go down between these two squads.
How to Watch
- When: Sunday, March 22, 9:45 pm ET
- Where:Â Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, Florida
- How to Watch: TBS
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Tech | -110 | -1.5 | O164 |
| Alabama | -110 | +1.5 | U164 |
Game Preview
The Red Raiders (23-10) avoided a potential upset despite not having star forward JT Toppin, instead dominating Akron to advance to the Round of 32. Jaylen Petty, who had scored 20 points in two games this season, went off for a career-high 24 points after matching a career-best with five 3-pointers while Josiah Moseley added 16 points along with providing four rebounds and a career-high four blocked shots. Christian Anderson stayed true to his All-American form, providing 18 points, five assists and four steals and Donovan Atwell hit 4-of-6 3-pointers and finished with 15 points.
The Crimson Tide (24-9) cruised to victory in the first round, blowing out Hofstra in the process. Labaron Philon Jr. scored a game-high 29 points, 21 of which came after halftime, to lead his squad to the win. Aiden Sherrell collected his third double-double of the year with 15 points and 15 rebounds, while Taylor Bol Bowen also added 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field and 2-of-3 from deep. Amari Allan (11) and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (11) also reached double figures.
Texas Tech vs Alabama Head-to-Head
The two programs have had eight meetings in their history, and the result is 7-1 for the Crimson Tide. The last matchup was in November 2013 when Alabama won 76-65 at home.
Texas Tech vs Alabama Predictions
The winner of this matchup will take on Michigan in the Sweet 16. Texas Tech remains resilient despite the injuries, showing that Christian Anderson, Donovan Atwell and Jaylen Petty are willing to step up to the plate. Alabama will be the Red Raiders’ biggest test to date, especially if Labaron Philon is due for another big performance. Our betting pick here is the Crimson Tide to cover a 1.5-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick:Â Alabama Crimson Tide -1.5
